Days after the sudden double resignations that rocked the pageantry world, the mothers of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageant winners spoke out on behalf of their daughters in a new interview with “Good Morning America.”
“Their dream job turned out to be a nightmare,” Barbara Srivastava, whose daughter UmaSofia Srivastava resigned last week from her role as Miss Teen USA 2023, told “GMA.” masquerade. The girls decided to withdraw, to give up their life’s dream, a crown, a national title. Why would two girls decide to give it up?
Miss Teen USA 2023, UmaSofia Srivastava at Nebula Nightclub on February 10, 2024 in New York.
Chance Yeah/Getty Images, FILE
Both beauty queens say a very ugly work environment has become toxic, but since they are both bound by contracts with confidentiality clauses, their mothers find a platform to express their experiences.
After former Miss USA Noelia Voigt announced her resignation on social media, fans immediately noticed that the phrases resembled letters that read, “I am silenced.”
Noelia Voigt attends the Los Angeles premiere of STARZ’s “Mary & George” on March 21, 2024 in Los Angeles.
Paul Archuleta/Getty Images, FILE
“She is and she will be for the rest of her life if this non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is not lifted,” her mother, Jackeline Voigt, told “GMA.” “The girls need to talk.”
Her daughter in Sarasota, Fla., blasted Miss USA and its president Laylah Rose, writing in part: “There is a toxic work environment within the Miss USA organization that is mismanagement at best and, at worst, intimidation and harassment.” She added: “I felt unsafe at events without an effective manager, which resulted in sexual harassment.”
Voigt said her daughter received unwanted advances during a Christmas parade.
“I saw Noelia so stressed. And I said, ‘What happened?’ And she said, “Mom, get in the car. When I got in the car, I said, “What happened,” because I know he said something, but I? “I couldn’t understand. He said to Noelia, ‘Do you like old men with money’ and that made Noelia very, very uncomfortable,” her mother explained. “GMA.”
In her letter, Noelia Voigt wrote that Rose’s response was, “We can’t stop people from saying things to you in public appearances,” explaining that this mostly comes from the territory.
Voigt said her daughter was not informed: “I’m sorry you experienced this.”
“After she resigned, Noelia came home. And it was so beautiful to see her running around my living room with the dogs. I found my Noelia,” Voigt said. “She was so upset. That’s not why she worked so hard.”
“Then the Miss Universe Organization needs to come talk to us, or apologize, or clean up this mess,” Voight continued.
Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava talk to “Good Morning America” about their daughter’s show airing May 14, 2024.
ABC News
“The crown weighs heavily,” Srivastava said.
She alleges that her teenage daughter, originally from New Jersey and currently finishing her freshman year of high school, was also bullied by management, causing her to miss out on opportunities, while being monitored and controlled his personal social networks.
“I want to be clear, it’s not about what they didn’t get, it’s not about the awards. It’s about how they were mistreated, abused, harassed and cornered,” Srivastava said .
Since Noelia Voigt’s resignation, Srivastava said her daughter knew she had to do the same.
“My personal values no longer align with the direction the organization is taking,” the former Miss Teen USA wrote in her social media statement.
“When she saw that they were attacking Noelia’s mental health, (UmaSofia) said, ‘I can’t stand this. I have to stand up with Noelia,'” her mother Barbara Srivastava recalled of the alleged catalyst and chain reaction.
The Miss USA Organization told ABC News, “We are committed to fostering a healthy, communicative and supportive environment for all contestants, state titleholders, national titleholders and staff.”
Laylah Rose did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
Barbara Srivastava (left) is the mother of former Miss Teen USA 2023 Uma Sofia Srivastava and Jackeline Voigt (right) is the mother of former Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt.
ABC News
Both moms say they want Rose to step down, but until then, they share a warning for future contestants.
“Look what happened to Noelia (and) UmaSofia,” Jackeline Voigt said. “Be really careful. We don’t want them to experience this. Right now is not the right time to participate.”
When asked if she thought young women should stop competing in these types of pageants, Voigt said “absolutely.”
“We just don’t want these families and these girls to go through what we’re going through,” she continued.
The CW, which broadcasts the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants, said it was “evaluating” the relationship with the pageants in light of these resignations and allegations.
Both Noelia and UmaSofia have written books about their experiences of being bullied growing up. They said they hope to encourage other women to speak out against any form of abuse.
Both of their mothers said the message coming from all this goes beyond the world of beauty pageants, and they hope their daughters can set an example of staying true to yourself and using your voice, no matter what. or sacrifice.
ABC News
